And customer reviews backed that up, with comments like "it binds under the arms" or "didn't give any support".

Only the best companies and products made it here!

So what can you wear on the hiking trail that won't fight you every step of the way?

You've got way more important things on your mind, like paying attention to the fantastic bounty of wild flowers, right?

Step One is to focus on the proper materials and construction of your bra.

Let's get to it, shall we?

Focus on the flowers, not your sports bra

Materials & construction of sports bras for hikers

Regardless of the cup size, a great hiking sports bra pays attention to how a woman's body moves on the hiking trail.

Women's hiking active wear should also look good.

And every female hiker deserves a sports bra that makes her feel great!

To find these unicorn best plus size bras to wear on a hike, pay attention to two things: materials and design.

Best materials for plus size hiking sports bras

The fabrics and materials you look for in plus size sports bras have lots of important jobs to do:

Breasts are not locked down tight, like ears or knee caps, so bras need to be designed with anti-bounce features.

However,
locked down tight does not mean smooshed into oblivion. Materials in
sports bras need to find the right balance between breast tissue support -vs- crushing.

Encapsulation-vs- compression, in other words.

When looking at sports bras, zero in on the best type of bra for the hiking you're planning to do: low impact, medium impact, or high impact. The amount of support, fabric and money invested will escalate as you approach high impact sports bras.

Perspiration accumulates under and between breasts, so the material in the sports bra must wick up the moisture while allowing heat to dissipate.

All
of that sweat should be released easily into the atmosphere, allowing
you to feel as cool and dry as possible. Being sweaty is a hiking
reality. But there are degrees of sweatiness, controlled in part by your
choice of hiking underwear.

Easy washability, soft cups with no chafing seams and a reasonable life span - that's not too much to ask, is it?

Best designs for plus size hiking sports bras

When sizing up the design of your potential bras, look for:

Comfortable adjustable straps that aren't stretchy and can be trusted to stay in place as you move

A design that avoids shoulder fatigue with wide straps; a strapless bra or pushup bra won't work well for you on the trail

Full coverage back design, sometimes with soft material that lies flat and won't press into your skin under the compression of your backpack - but will lend support

Fast "off and on" closure system, with a front closure hook-and-eye giving the best chance of not having a wrestling match with your own sports bra

Firm breast support with fitted cups (removable cups aren't recommended because they tend to migrate as you swing your arms while hiking)

Neckline that gives the amount of coverage you decide is best

Wire free to eliminate digging or stabbing into your flesh

Moisture wicking fabrics that lightly line the cups, wash and wear well over many hiking seasons - but also have a bit of "give" to them via spandex or elastane

A slightly more snug fit than your everyday bras, to handle your motions along the hiking trail while providing a natural shape

Know your numbersto find a bra that workson the trail

As with any bra, you should know your
measurements to guarantee you'll end up wearing a comfortable bra:

circumference of your rib cage just beneath your breasts (band size),

your bust size,

and your cup size.

But even if you think you know these measurements, different companies might interpret them a bit differently.

She’s
been on a hiking trail somewhere in the world for nearly five
decades, & loves to share her best hiking tips right here.

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